Proton VPN app: free and trusted on the internet

Proton VPN

The range of VPN services is vast, with many different providers and services to choose from. One of these is Proton, a well-known name. For example, the Swiss company also offers Proton Mail, its calendar and an alternative to Google Drive, a storage service. In this article, we look at Proton VPN, the company's free VPN service.

What is a VPN?

With a VPN (Virtual Private Network), you ensure that your internet traffic is encrypted and runs through a remote server. This means that your online activities are less easily tracked by, for example, your internet provider, websites or on public WiFi networks. Especially if you often use Wi-Fi in cafés, hotels or when travelling, this gives you an extra layer of security. Your data, such as passwords or personal information, are therefore better protected from being watched or misused.

In addition, a VPN also allows you to increase your online freedom. That's because you can browse the internet via servers in other countries, sometimes giving you access to content that is not normally available in your region. Think streaming services or websites with geographical restrictions. For you, that means more choice and flexibility, while at the same time keeping better control of your privacy.

Proton is known for a service where privacy is paramount. That is also the case with this VPN service. The basic functionality is free, if you want more features then you can take out a subscription. For the basic stuff, the free service is more than enough. You log in with a Proton account, after which you can use the service.

On the home page of the Proton VPN app, you can immediately start connecting. Here, it automatically activates the fastest server from one of the ten free server locations. This is usually the nearest location. If you want to choose your own country, then you need to use VPN Plus, which means you have to pay for it. You can then choose from 145 countries. The standard price for this is 9.99 euros a month or almost 84 euros a year, although discount prices apply. You also achieve the highest VPN speed with such a subscription, although we have not experienced any hindrance here in recent months. The paid plan also lets you block ads, malware and trackers.

You can also create profiles, using different servers, for different things. Think for maximum security, for work, gaming and for streaming. Here you can also configure different options, such as the protocol, LAN connections, DNS and more.

To make Proton VPN not stand out in the menu, you can customise the app icon. Where you can also replace it with a discreet app icon, such as weather, notes or the calculator.